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Like many individuals in a variety of other sports, some runners choose to hire personal coaches to help them achieve their goals. Benefits of doing so include accountability, outside perspective, and having a qualified individual create a structured workout calendar to help a runner work toward an upcoming race or simply getting in better shape.

“Using a coach takes the guesswork out of training,” White Rock Running Co-op member Paige Ryder said. “It also helps take the element of planning out of training, which is good for newer runners.”

But using a coach throughout training—whether while gearing up for a race or not—is not for everyone. WRRC member Aaron Byrkit said that, in addition to not wanting to pay extra expenses for coaching, his current lifestyle is more conducive to running on his own plan.

“It seems that many coaches require a certain level of commitment from their athletes, and as a father of two young children, I’m not sure I’d be able to give that level of commitment,” he said. “My life requires a lot of flexibility at the moment.”

Byrkit said that he might eventually consider a coach if he sets higher goals or seeks additional accountability, but right now, adding a coach does not seem necessary to him.

“It’s only been about a year that I’ve been running races,” he said. “I’m still at a stage where I’m setting a baseline for what times I’m capable of running at different distances. Part of me sees hiring a coach as something people do when they are trying to push beyond what they have found to be their baselines and find their next levels.”

Other individuals, though, prefer to have that extra help, regardless of their racing experience. It can be rather easy to get down on oneself when an individual has a bad race or bad training run. A coach, however, can provide a fresh perspective and offer encouragement to help the individual see how that disappointment can actually be a beneficial form of mental training or a useful learning experience. Additionally, a coach can help spark that extra physical conditioning a runner didn’t even know he or she was capable of achieving.

“I think if you need more structure and are looking to improve your times, having a coach is a great way to switch up your training and gain an outside perspective,” Ryder, who is running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, said.

One important factor for many runners who opt to hire coaches is cost. Some coaches might charge as little as $25 per month, while others require more than $200. For those who can afford the extra expense, the investment can often be an added motivation.

“I think when you are paying for something, it makes you more likely to do something,” Ryder said. “I know I feel committed to it because I am investing in myself.”

Putting sugar on a cut can help it heal more quickly. The granules of the sugar crystals will absorb any moisture on which bacteria thrive.

If you plan to be in Dallas this weekend, join the club—and be prepared to see plenty of burnt orange and crimson.

The Longhorns and Sooners first played each other in 1900 and have been facing off on an annual basis since 1929 and at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park since 1932. While it’s officially referred to as the Red River Showdown (formerly the Red River Shootout and Red River Rivalry), local residents in the Dallas area know it simply as Texas-Ou Weekend—a time when the city becomes super congested, and weekend traffic is essentially worse than that of a Friday afternoon before a holiday. If you’re going anywhere in Dallas this weekend, it’s probably wise to add an extra 30 minutes to 3 hours to allotted time to get there.

“It’s pure chaos,” Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone said of the crowds that invade the city. “Dallas traffic has always been a nightmare, but it’s a little extra nightmarish.”

The Longhorns currently lead the series 62-50-5, though the Sooners have won the last four meetings. Going into this weekend’s game, unranked Texas is coming off a 38-20 win over West Virginia, while previously ranked No. 18 OU (now knocked out of the top 25) took a 55-24 beating against TCU on Saturday. Local teacher Megan England, who is Boomer Sooner for life, said that she isn’t expecting much in terms of good football.

“I enjoy the fun and tradition, but both teams are below average this year, so the game won’t be that fantastic,” she said.

While the winning team will walk away with a golden 10-gallon hat to keep at its school until next year, what’s really on the line this annual weekend are pride and bragging rights. And, as England mentioned, it’s the tradition of the Red River Showdown that keeps people interested and coming back each year.

“I think for both of these specific communities, it’s always been a big event,” England said. “Dallas loves tradition. Several years ago, when the game series contract with the Cotton Bowl was up for renewal, Jerry Jones put in a very generous bid to bring the game to AT&T like he has with the A&M vs. Arkansas rivalry. Both UT and OU declined and opted to keep it at the fair. I would gather it’s becoming more widely known because of the growing commercialization of the event, social media awareness, and push for tourism in Dallas.”

For Dallas resident Alexis Derrow, who moved to the area from Chicago in 2020, it’s an exciting weekend that she thinks will live up to the hype she’s heard.

“I moved here during the pandemic, but all I kept hearing was how awesome this weekend was in the before times,” Derrow, who is rooting for the Longhorns, said. “So, I’m really excited to see a big event in the city in all its glory. I think this year will be a good representation of the pre-pandemic vibe.”

Kickoff for the Red River Showdown is Saturday, October 8, at 11 a.m.

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Karen Brinkmann knows how to have a good time at the fair